Most of the animal forms, domestic and wild, are life-sized and are constructed from handmade quilts. They are familiar to anyone, yet they have their own intimate history, as they are constructed from worn family fabrics that are repurposed by loving hands. These fabrics are again repurposed into what I call ”containers for the spirit”. The forms show evidence of the life and life events such as the wounds and the mending, the adorning with paint, beads and flowers and then sometimes negating this embellishment with coats of paint. The forms are left empty. As I can best express it, this body of work is about holding on to things that are evolving, and eventually passing, by freezing them in time. Rich and varied textures such as tidal pools and the tiny ecosystem found in bogs are inspirations for some of the surfaces.Handmade quilts are passed down to family members often as the maker fades away, wild animals and the places they come from can become extinct and pets eventually leave us. These objects are also about joy as they aim to be beautiful and playful and contain a sense of celebration of the moment.

"We Are What We Endanger" at Hambidge Art Center Ice House", fabric, paint and found materials. Made in 2008.

“We Are What We
Endanger”, It seems that as humans evolve,
we are becoming more separated from the natural world. I am making forms that
force the human and animal in the same space; the same identity. Florida Back
Bear identity is my playful yet poignant way of bridging the separation.The form is meant to be a combination of a tangible messenger from a fairytale and an invitation to a sacrament not unlike ancient rituals where a human assumes the spirit of the animal by wearing its skin. Here the viewer is invited to complicate entering the body of the Bear, inhabiting its spirit, its power and its plight.

"Understanding Fear By Wearing it or Demon Outfits for the Whole Family" is a series of sculptures made of fabric, beads, paint, cardboard and other materials. They are theatrical outfits for my husband Bruce, me, our cat, our two amazon parrots and our pet hamster. 2006

"Bear Mask with Bird Watching Mask or a Cat Attached to the Nose", paper mache, feathers and beads".